Blog Post 6- Illegal Download

http://talkback.stomp.com.sg/forums/showthread.php?p=878426

Article Headline: Anime Fans seek ways to fight Odex crackdown
Date Pub.17/8/02007 Friday

As some of you might know by now, local anime [video comics] distributor Odex is planning to sue about 500 people guilty of illegal anime downloads for up to $5000 with a promise to stop further illegal downloading. This has caused uproar in anime fans groups.

To kick start my blog entry, I would like to announce;
I have a prophecy, that everyone will start buying copyrighted stuff
I have a prophecy that everyone will not download illegally
I have a prophecy that all will know of the dangers of illegal downloading and not be caught by the police force or whatsoever.

Firstly, this issue affects many of us, including you and me. Ask 10 teenagers, 8 will confess to having a history of illegal downloads. Nabbing 500 people is also a seemingly impossible task, to the public it is more of a laughing stock than a case matter.

Clearly, anime is creative work and fans copy the whole work, but nobody does it for profit. Even Article 38 of Japan's own copyright law allows parties to 'distribute by wire a work already broadcast for non-profit purposes'. The most popular anime titles take about six to eight months to be released here on VCDs and also competitively priced.

On to the case itself, it is understandable for Odex to launch a lawsuit. Anime is becoming more popular, but there is no rise in sales. This alone is rather frustrating. Not only that, mangas [drawn comics] are drawn painstakingly, manually, and take a long time as well. Making their drawings into anime is also rather tedious. As such, downloading anime illegally would be robbing the artists of their rice bowls.

If Odex wins the lawsuit, no one will dare download illegally for fear of the hefty fines. However, how will future offenders be deterred? Lawsuits are not a long –term solution though. What if, they were to lose the lawsuit? More people would download illegally.

For the have-nots people who cannot afford the VCDs but yet are anime fans, fret not. There are anime fan bases all over this tiny red dot, which charge cheap prices for rental of mangas.

Personally, irregardless of the infringement- right laws or whatsoever, I feel that illegal downloading reflects on poor self-control, no respect for the law, and an uncaring attitude about other people’s life. Now, the fate of the manga artists lies in your hands. If you wish to see more beautiful comics, please lead the way by buying copyrighted stuff and restraining form illegal downloads.

Now, I feel that downloading anime is like downloading music; the latter is not allowed in Singapore, and doing so will have a trail of blue assailants after you. This lawsuit is rather lenient; there is no jail term which follows. Only a fine ensues, after which most will go back to their incorrigible ways.

Well, getting caught, paying hefty fines, serving a jail sentence, separation form loved ones and public embarrassment, hmm... I ponder which is an easier route... Mind you, IT experts nowadays can track down any illegally downloaded file. With a search warrant, when the truth comes to light, your life might just be over.

Do you want to see all your hard work go to waste over some puny clip? Don’t fall over to the dark side. Would you like to be arrested at your wedding day for an incident in the past you once foolishly committed?

Well, in the past, I was anime loving fan enjoying unlimited downloads. For this post and the 180’ change in attitude, I accept nothing less than an outcry and the flaming of my tag board. Bring it on.